Table 2.

Questions to ask adolescents about their use of the media, issues to address, and concerns

Questions	Issues to address	Concerns
How many hours a week do you think you watch television (and cable television) and videos?	Is use excessive?	Possible interference with other activities
Isolation; alienation; depressive symptoms
How much time do you spend on the computer?	Lack of guidance and/or supervision
Inactivity leading to obesity
How much time do you spend playing electronic games, or with handheld devices?
What are your favorite game(s); website(s); chatroom(s)?	What is the adolescent potentially being exposed to and/or vulnerable to?	Prohibitive cost
Auctions or internet shopping
Ambling
Access to adult material
—sexual content
—political extremism
—violence
—substance use
Interactions with strangers who may take advantage of minors
Who is your favorite character or performer, program(s), or film(s)	Does the adolescent have an unhealthy association or preoccupation with media characters, personalities, or activities?	Inappropriate dress, makeup, speech, or gestures
Violent or sexual content inappropriate to age or stage of development
Excessive attention to weight or body image
—exercise or body building
—disordered eating and poor diet
—use of diet pils, laxatives, etc.
		Desire to relive or reproduce favorite plots or media events involving sex or violence